Biography
The realistic images of nature that I paint are often chosen because they are endangered. I want to share the beauty and magic of creatures that are disappearing all over the world. My hope is to raise awareness of the plight of these creatures and to inspire others to think about what is happening to our planet.” In describing her way of working Julia says, “I take the inspired image and create a composition in my sketch book. I prefer to work with photos I have taken of flowers or plants (or water or koi) and also real frog patterns on the bodies of the dancers. Next, I sketch a minimal composition on the canvas and wash in basic blocks of color using turpentine and oils. I mix my colors on the palette before I start. I love working with brilliant color (Schminke and Old Holland have beautiful pure yellows, reds and greens). I also bring in toned colors to create an earthy warm feeling in the work. Using smaller brushes I lay in the midtones, starting from the background working toward the foreground. With a second dry brush I blend the strokes. I work with Liquin to create multiple transparent layers - usually a minimum of five layers, and as many as 8 layers. The shadows are added during the 3rd or 4th layers. The last touches are highlights and stronger brush strokes which add to the rhythm of the work.” Julia began studying oil painting at 13, and was painting murals by age 16. She has studied and worked in many art forms but claims oil painting as her first love.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I created my first painting at the age of 5. It was of sunflowers with seeds. At the age of 14 I sold my first oil painting of a seascape. My life has continued to be centered on art.
I am driven by a passionate yearning to connect with the soul of a subject. The motive for my work remains the same whether the subject is of the natural world, the cultural world or a mythical world: to share the joy I experience bringing these beings to life. My favorite medium to work with is oil, using intense colors in multiple transparent layers. The majority of my paintings I first see in my nocturnal dreams. Several of these dreams motivated me to comment on culture through the subject of shoes. One series of the shoe paintings, The Red Shoe Series, expresses playful delight, mischievously depicting a couple’s shoes with empty wine glasses. Other series speak to the power of the human experience, such as The Color Purple series. I have enjoyed blending nature and culture with the Nature Shoe series. All of my work is some expression of my authentic self whether it is emotion, visions or connection with the Sacred. I often meditate before starting my work so as to open to the flow of Spirit and creative consciousness. I anticipate what inspirations the next dreams and visions will convey.
Awareness
The images of nature that I paint are often chosen because they are endangered. I want to share the beauty and magic of creatures that are disappearing all over the world. My first works concerning nature were of endangered Amphibians and Carnivorous plants. I also created a series of oil paintings depicting the San Elijo Lagoon near San Diego, California. Our wetlands are extremely endangered with only about 10% of the natural spaces left existing on the California coast. My hope is to raise awareness of the plight of these creatures and to inspire others to think about what is happening to our planet. I support environmental preservation causes through the sales of my work
Sacred
Art can be a means of expressing and touching the Sacred. Nature is the perfect reflection of what is Sacred to me. I am inspired by the earth's elements. Nature touches the sacred in me and brings joy to my work.
